Channel hanger for supporting electric lighting fixtures from suspended ceiling framework



Dec. 6, 1960 w. H. Fuss CHANNEL HANGER FOR SUPPORTING ELECTRIC LIGHTING FIXTURES FROM SUSPENDED CEILING FRAMEWORK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 7, 1958 INVENTOR. WmuAM H.'Fuss ATTORNEY-S Dec. 6, 1960 w. H. Fuss 2,963,251

CHANNEL HANGER FOR SUPPORTING ELECTRIC LIGHTING FIXTURES FROM SUSPENDED CEILING FRAMEWORK Filed Feb. 7, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2e s6 PIG-.4 do;

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. a 34 2C '58 3o 4e 8 32 i2 Bog 28 2 0 INVENTOR. WILLIAM HfF'usfs 7/z9/z m fi AwoizueYs CHANNEL HANGER FOR SUPPORTING ELECTRIC LIGHTING FIXTURES FROM SUSPENDED CEIL- ING FRAMEWORK William H. Fuss, 5338 Redan Road, Stone Mountain, Ga.

Filed Feb. 7, 1958, Ser. No. 713,946

1 Claim. (Cl. 248-228) This invention relates to suspension means, and, more specifically, the invention pertains to means espec ally designed to suspend fixtures or devices from a ceiling framework.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide suspension means supported on a ceiling framework for suspending electric outlet boxes, lighting fixtures, and other articles therefrom.

Another object of this invention is to provide suspension means for support on the joists of a ceiling framework for supporting electric outlet boxes, lighting fixtures, and other articles, the means comprising a clip for connection with a ceiling supported channel member.

A further object of this invention is to provide a clip together with means for suspending electrical fixtures and other articles therefrom, the clip being readily connected and disconnected from a ceiling supported channel member.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a suspension device of the type described which requires no tools for installation at the desired position and which does not require the use of welding, rivets, nuts and bolts and/or other similar securing means for connecting the clip to the above mentioned channel member.

This invention contemplates, as a still further object thereof, the provision of suspension means of the type generally referred to supra, the suspension means being non-complex in construction and assembly, inexpensive to manufacture, and durable in use.

Other and further objects and advantages of the instant invention will become more evident from a con- .sideration of the following specification when read in conjunction with the annexed drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the clip type suspension means constructed in accordance with this invention and illustrates its connection with a channel member for efiecting suspension of a fluorescent light;

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the clip, per se;

Figure 3 is a detail cross-sectional view taken substantially on the vertical plane of line 3--3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail cross-sectional view taken substantially on the vertical plane of line 4-4 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is a detail cross-sectional view of the clip and its associated channel member, this figure illustrating another application of the suspension means wherein the same is utilized to draw the reflector of an electric light fixture flush against the ceiling;

Figure 6 illustrates the suspension means together with a lock nut adapter; and,

Figure 7 illustrates the suspension means for suspending an electric outlet box.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral 10 designates a conventional acoustic type ceiling supported from a plurality of conventional channel-shaped joists 12. The joists 12 include upper flanges 2,9532% Patented Dec. 6, 1960 14 across which rest a flange 16 which projects from the lower end of a vertically disposed bight portion 20 of a channel member 18, the latter also including another flange 22 which is on the same side of the bight portion 20 as the flange 16 and projects from the upper end of the bight portion 20.

Reference numeral 24 generally connotes the suspension device constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention. As disclosed in the drawings, the suspension device 24 is seen to include a clip member comprising an upstanding bight portion 30, a first horizontally disposed flange 26 positioned on one side of and projecting from the upper end of the bight member 30, and a second horizontally disposed flange 28 positioned on said one side of and projecting from the lower end of the bight member 30. The first flange 26 terminates in the third flange 36 which extends downwardly from and is perpendicular to the first flange 26 and is parallel to the bight member 30. The second flange 28 termimates in a fourth flange 38 which extends upwardly from and is perpendicular to the second flange 28 and is parallel to the bight member 30. The fourth flange 38 terminates in a lip projection 40 which extends perpendicularly from the fourth flange 38 and faces toward the bight member 30. The second flange 28 is provided with a plurality of pairs of threaded apertures 32 and 34 of which the former has a diameter greater than the latter, the apertures serving to receive in threaded engagement a threaded suspension means.

The clip members 24 may be mounted on the channel shaped member 18 either before or after the channelshaped member is placed on the joists 12. To connect the clip members 24 to the channel-shaped member 18, the lip extension 40 is passed over the flange 16 with the latter extending in a plane substantially bisecting the angle formed at the junction of the flange 28 with the flange 38. The clip 24 is then manipulated to move the flange 28 towards the flange 16 and substantially simultaneously therewith the bight 30 is pivoted towards the bight 20. With the two bight portions, 20 and 30, respectively, superimposed one against the other, the clip 24 may be released to permit the flange 26 to engage and rest on the flange 22 and the lip extension 40 to rest on the flange 16.

With the clip 24 mounted on the U-shaped channel member and the latter extending across and being supported by a pair of adjacent joists 12 the suspension device is ready for utilization. v

A conventional overhead lighting fixture is generally designated by reference numeral 42 (see Figure 1). The lighting fixture 42 is designed to be suspended adjacent the ceiling 10 by means of a pair of longitudinally spaced suspension rods 44, each having a necked down upper end portion 46 (see Figure 3) forming a shoulder 48 and which terminates in a threaded end 50. A pair of inverted substantially frusto-conical shields are indicated at 52 and each includes a side wall 54 and an end wall 56 extending across the smaller end thereof and being-provided with a central aperture 58. The upper reduced or necked down portions 46 of the suspension rods 44 are passed through the apertures 58 until the end walls 56 engage against the shoulders 48. The necked down portions 46 are then extended through suitable openings 60 formed in the ceiling 10 so that the threaded ends 50 thereof thread into the apertures 32 thus effecting connection with the clip 24. As the upper threaded ends 50 of the suspension rods 44 continue to move upwardly relative to the flange 28 they engage against the flange 16 and further rotation of the rods 44 causes the clip 24 to move downwardly relative to the channel shaped member 18 until the flange 26 engages the flange 22 and the flange 16 engages under the lip 40 to ettect a clamping action between the engaged flanges. It will be understood, of course, that the above described threaded engagement takes place only after the rods'44' have been elevated-to engage the base of the shield-52 against the ceiling- 10.;

Figure 5' illustrates another adaptation of this invention wherein reference numeral 100 designates an-electric light reflector having opposed side walls 102, 104, opposed end walls 106 (only one being illustrated), and a top wall 108 adapted to lie flush with-the ceiling 10. The top wall 108 is provided with one or more centrally located apertures 110 which are aligned with oneor more of the apertures 60 formed in the ceiling 10. In this instance, one or more threaded bo1ts112 are substituted for the suspension rods 44, the bolts 112-having a diameter less than the diameter of the suspension rods 44. The upper ends of the bolts 112 are threaded into the threaded aperture 34' for engagement against the flange 16 in the same manner as described above. In this case, however, the lower threaded end of the bolt 112 is extended through the'aperture 60 and the aperture 110 formed in the wall 108. A lock washer 114 and not 116 are passed over the threaded lower end of the bolt 112, and the nut 116 is then tightened to draw the top wall 108 of the reflector 100 against the ceiling 10.

Figure 6 illustrates another embodiment of this invention wherein the suspension rod or rods 200 having threaded upper ends 202 have an outside diameter greater than the inside diameter of the aperture 34 and less than the inside diameter of the aperture 32. In this case, the upper threaded end 202 is passed upwardly through the aperture 32 and is threaded through a suitable lock nut 204 having an outside dimension greater than the diameter of the aperture 32. The not 204 rests on the flange 28 and the rod 200 is threaded therethrough to contact the flange 16 and to force it into engagement with the lip 40 and simultaneously therewith to force the flange 22 into engagement with the flange 26, in the manner described above.

Figure 7 illustrates another embodiment of this invention wherein a threaded nipple 300 may be engaged in either of the apertures 32, 34, the lower end thereof being extended through a suitable opening formed in the end wall 302 of an electric outlet box 304. As is seen in this figure, the box 304 extends upwardly through an enlarged opening 306 formed in the ceiling 10 so that the Wall 302 of the box 304 may be drawn tightly against the flange 16 by means of a nut 308 threadedly engaged on the lower end of the nipple 300;

Having described and illustrated several embodiments of this invention it is to be understood that the same are offered merely by way of example, and that the present invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

The combination with an overhead channel member including a vertically disposed bight portion and a pair of horizontally disposed upper and lower flanges arranged in vertically spaced relation positioned on one side of and projecting from the upper and lower ends of the bight portion respectively, of a suspension device comprising a clip member including an upstanding bight member, a first horizontally disposed flange positioned on one side of and projecting from the upper end of said bight member, the first flange being of at least equal length with respect to the length of the upper flange of the channel member, a second horizontally disposed flange positioned on said one side of and projecting from the lower end of said bight member, the second flange being of at least equal length with respect to the length of the lower flange of the channel member, said first flange terminating in a third flange which extends downwardly from and is perpendicular to said first flange and is parallel to said bight member, and said second flange terminating in a fourth flange which extends upwardly from and is perpendicular to said second. flange and is parallel to said bight member, said fourth flange terminating in a lip projection which extends perpendicularly from said fourth flange and faces said bight member, there being a plurality of threaded apertures in said second flange, said clip member being mounted on said channel member so that the clip member encircles said channel member with the bight member and first flange of said clip member bearing against the bight portion and flange projecting from the upper end of said bight portion respectively of said channel member, the third flange of the clip member depending over the free edge of the flange projecting from the upper end of the bight portion of said channel member, the second flange of said clip member being below and in parallel spaced relationwith respect to the flange projecting from the lower end of the bight portion of said channel member, the fourth flange of said clip member being outwardly of and extending over the free edge of the flange projecting from the lower end of the bight portion of said channel member, and the lip extension of said clip member extending over and resting upon the flange projecting from the lower end of the bight portion of said channel member, and suspension means threaded through one of said apertures of said second flange and engaging the under face of the flange projecting from the lower end of the bight portion of said channel member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,033,189 Murphy July 23, 1912 1,227,666 Rau May 29, 1917 2,845,855 Burns Aug. 5, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 15,974 Great Britain July 17, 1902 611,338 Great Britain Oct. 28, 1948 

